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Watch the otters at play from a holiday cottage or holiday rental home in Chulmleigh, Devon

Chulmleigh, sometimes known as Chumleigh, is a Saxon town and civil parish in South Molton, Devon. It is twenty miles northwest of the cathedral city of Exeter and the Little Dart; one of the tributaries of the River Taw runs through this small hilltop town. Neighboring Eggesford is a station on the Tarka Line that runs from Exeter to Barnstaple.

Places to holiday in Chulmleigh

One of the best ways to explore Chulmleigh is from self-catering holiday accommodation and there are many charming cottages that offer more freedom than a hotel or guesthouse. Almost everything around this area is linked to Henry William's character, Tarka the Otter and there are more wild otters to see from a self catering Chulmleigh cottage than anywhere else in England. The Tarka Trail is a network of footpaths running through Valley Walk, Two Moors Way and Little Dart Ridge.

There are some lovely woodland walks around the Devon cottages in Chulmleigh and this area has rich grasslands known as the Culm. Heywood Wood is part of ancient Eggesford Forest and has some unusual trees such as the Western Red Cedar and the Chile Pine, as well as the remains of a castle dating back to Norman times.

The centre of Chulmleigh is a conservation area and many of the buildings are listed. Most cottages are made from cob and thatch and two of the oldest buildings in the parish are Lower Dodvard and Egypt cottage. If you rent holiday accommodation in Chulmleigh in the last week in July, then you will be able to join in with all the fun of Chulmleigh fair. This event has taken place for the past seven hundred and fifty years. King Henry III granted a Royal Charter to the Chulmleigh back in 1253.

Things to do in Chulmleigh

The fourteenth Church of St Mary Magdalene is well worth a visit, as it is very elaborately built for the size of the area. the Chulmleigh Saxon heritage is not the only history you will encounter, as Cromwell's army rode to victory in neighbouring Torrington. Walking through the cottages in the town you will notice the peculiar carved heads and keystones above the doors and this "axe blade" is unique to this locality.

Chulmleigh self-catering cottages are close to a host of outdoor pursuits and the Chulmleigh Golf Course is one of the best eighteen-hole courses around. Just down the road is the Bold Try Equestrian Centre and there are many routes to cycle or walk through the forest. The banks of the Little Dart alongside the Taw Valley are popular with keen birdwatchers. Fishing is allowed in this river as well as Huntacoot Water, the Taw and Mole and Catham Lakes, and permits are readily available.

Chulmleigh has a cricket club with views over the Dart Valley and Dartmoor. There are tennis courts at the Community College and Chulmleigh Sports Centre has a fitness suite, four badminton courts and tennis courts. The History Society, Taw Valley Ventures and the Chulmleigh Garden Society often stage events and you can eat out at the Cider Press in Eggesford, French's of Chulmleigh, the Fox and Hounds Country Hotel and many other places in the area.

Weather in Chulmleigh

The climate is mild in Chulmleigh and this is demonstrated by the way some holiday cottages in the area have been named, such as orange tree, plum and lime tree cottage.

Travel to Chulmleigh

Exeter airport (EXE) is convenient for Chulmleigh and Eggesford railway station is served from Exeter and there are many links from the Tarka Line. National Express coaches also operate to Exeter and Turners Tours run a local coach/bus service.

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Recent Reviews

Living on the other side of the world from my family is tough at the best of times, but bring a new niece/grandaughter/cousin into the family and that all important get together needs to be special. The Threshing Barn was THE best holiday we have had as a family. Amazing accommodation, beautiful views and everything we needed! Loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone. Thank you!!!! 5 star from start to finish... Just wish we had longer but awesome family memories.

What a wonderful stay we had. Alex and his family were very welcoming and the cottage is just lovely. From the moment we arrived at the well equipped cottage and the lovely homely touches and beautiful flowers it was a joy to stay - cosy, very clean and situated perfectly to explore Devon, Somerset and Dorset.
Thank you guys for inviting us along to your firework display and bbq which was above and beyond! We would recommend this cottage anytime and are planning to return when we can

Lovely house in a quiet spot, plenty of space for 3 generations of the same family (including 5 children) to watch TV/ read/ enjoy some peace and quiet. Very well equipped kitchen and plenty of room to sit all 10 of us around the table (not shown on the website). The cream tea on arrival was delish. Loads to do within an hour's drive, we did: Lundy Island (gorgeous); Castle Drogo; Lynford Gorge; Baggy Point and Woolacombe and a day cycling on the Tarka Trail. All brilliant and we could easily have filled another week or two.